| Ford after experiencing some major setbacks for the | | | | survey there was yet another influential survey that |
| past few years not to mention its present problem in | | | | revealed that Ford’s 2007 model vehicles are |
| terms of additional capital has begun showing signs of | | | | now in head-to-head with Toyota and Nissan models |
| turnaround. According to the initial quality rankings | | | | in terms of quality. |
| conducted annually by J.D. Power and Associates, | | | | Industry observers are also taking notice of |
| five Ford models have taken the top spot in their | | | | Ford’s progress in relation to Toyota, which has |
| respective segments surpassing Toyota Motor Corp. | | | | obtain much attention especially now that it is the |
| Toyota for its part has dropped from placing first in | | | | new world’s biggest automaker passing General |
| eleven categories last year to three models in top | | | | Motors earlier this year. |
| spots this year. | | | | Peter Morici, University of Maryland economics |
| The Ford models that rank first in quality in their | | | | professor said last month, “One should not |
| segments include the Mustang, Mercury, Milan, Lincoln | | | | assume that the horse race is over and Toyota has |
| MKZ, Lincoln Mark LT, and the Mazda MX-5 Miata. | | | | conquered all. Content and quality are emerging at |
| Porsche and Toyota’s Lexus took the first and | | | | Ford. Look at their sedans and crossovers. Mark |
| second spots respectively just like last year. For this | | | | Fields is doing there what he did at Mazda.” |
| year four Ford brand has made it to the top 10 list | | | | Fields has built its reputation at Ford after making |
| including the third place Lincoln; the Jaguar, Mercury, | | | | Mazda the producer of high quality Mazda strut |
| and Ford brands occupy sixth, eighth, and tenth | | | | mount a healthy and profitable unit. He also headed |
| positions respectively. | | | | Ford of Europe before being promoted to his current |
| According to Neil Oddes, J.D. Power’s director of | | | | position in 2005. It can be recalled that Fields was |
| product research and analysis, “Fourteen Ford | | | | appointed to help Ford to recover and to regain |
| Motor Co. models place in the top three in their | | | | financial health especially in North America where its |
| respective segments — an achievement | | | | market share has been continuously dropping while |
| unmatched by any other corporation this year — | | | | losses mounted. In an effort to regain profitability the |
| which is a testament to the improvement in quality | | | | automaker has cut off more than 50,000 hourly and |
| for Ford … vehicle models and plants." | | | | salaried positions for the past two years closing in |
| General Motors Corporation has also tied with Toyota | | | | the process 16 of its plants. |
| with three models also ranking first in their segments | | | | J.D. Power’s survey has also awarded Ford’s |
| which include the Pontiac Grand Prix placing ahead of | | | | Wixom plant with best-quality performing plant |
| the Toyota Avalon in the large-car category. | | | | worldwide, the last time that J.D. Power has given |
| In the rankings of overall brands, all GM brands have | | | | such award was way back in 1999 and for this year |
| obtained below industry average however Buick | | | | it is a first that a North American plant was able to |
| placed highest in 14th place. Despite the fact that | | | | produce with vehicles possessing the fewest defects. |
| none of the vehicles made at either the Ford | | | | The Wixom plant, which made the Lincoln Town Car |
| Claycomo plant or General Motors Fairfax plant was | | | | was shut down May 31 as part of Ford’s cutting |
| able to ranked first in their categories but somehow | | | | down measures. |
| the Ford F-150 made at Claycomo has been able to | | | | Ford’s Claycomo plant ranked third in productivity |
| obtain second place in the large pickup category | | | | among all North American assembly plants in building |
| lagging behind the Chevrolet Silverado. | | | | the Ford Escape, Mazda Tribute Sport Utility Vehicles, |
| Mark Fields, Ford’s President of the Americas | | | | and the Mercury Mariner according to an annual study |
| said that J.D. Power recognition was inspiring but that | | | | by Harbour Consulting of Troy, Mich. The F-150 that |
| doesn’t mean that the automaker will be | | | | the plant produced has garnered second place in its |
| satisfied already. He said, “We will continue to | | | | segment in productivity. |
| deliver even more high-quality products that | | | | Harbour has also ranked GM Fairfax the fifth most |
| customers want." | | | | productive assembly plant in North America in terms |
| Ford’s turnaround program is showing remarkable | | | | of hours per vehicle. |
| results earlier this year. Aside from the J.D Power | | | | J.D. |